Language Change Essay Flashcards
Inroduction
Prescriptivists= any devation from SE is decay
Descriptivists= impartial
David Crystal “Trying to stop language change…it would be easier to stop the tide”
The continuum of attitudes means that it will continue to be debated whether language change is a process of decay or evolution
Lexical change (evolution)
Allows creation of new lexis for new inventions
It blended terms such as “ringxiety” (ring + anxiety)
What theory supports evolution for Lexical change
Functional theory- blends and initialisms are created whereas archic words such as floppy disk are dropped
Support for lexical change
New lexis for new inventions and concepts (ie blend of ringxiety)
Any attempt to control it is futile, seen by the French Academy
Lexical change decay
Use of abbreviations and initialism it LMK (Let me know) decrease language quality
BUT David Crystal says to use abbreviation you must know full version
Lexical change decay metaphor
Jean Aitchinson use crumbling Castle to suggest language should be preserved to keep it prestige
BUT they cannot say when Castle was perfect
Semantic change evolution
Words have ameliorated meanings ie the reclamation of “spastic”
Model to support semantic change evolution
S curve model
Shows how language use increases as lexis becomes more accepted
Semantic change decay
Stephen pinker “Euphemism treadmill”
Reclaimed words still hold pejorative connotations so causes miscommunication
Grammatical change decay
18th Century Robert Lowth grammar rules ie don’t split an infinitive
Reason why Latin is dead, and the semantics is not lost in English
Grammatical change evolution
Neatening if language
Ie removing the suffix from doth to create do
Allows more suitable formality in 21st century
Shown by S curve model
Weakness of Scurve model
Does not explain why change occurred only the speed and pattern
Orthogrphical change evolution
Scottish exam board “2b or not 2b”
David Crystal says “abbreviations are a natural response… that speed up communication while still portraying meaning” so aims of communication are met so not decay
Orthographical change Decay
Decrease in standards
Seen with Birmingham apostrophe on street signs
Supported by Jean aithchinson infectious disease
Orthogrpahical change decay metaphor
Jean Aitchinson describes as infectious disease
As bad non standard English can be spread to become accepted
BUT argued this is too simplistic as you have a choice what language you acquire
